The Elizabethtown College Alumni Association (ECAA) will feature its new clothing line at the College Store during Homecoming Weekend, Oct. 19-21.
The ECAA consists of over 18,500 members. Graduates take pride in continuing their Etown tradition by holding annual events such as reunions, games and other benefits.
This year, a new clothing line was created by the Association in collaboration with the College Store to be featured at Homecoming Weekend. The line focuses on the motto “Blue Jays. Always.” Returning students and family members will have the opportunity to buy the new merchandise. The line will feature T-shirts, long-sleeve shirts, hoodies and hats in a variety of colors. On each item, the alumni logo and “Blue Jays. Always.” will be printed. Before this new clothing line, the College Store did have alumni clothing, but there wasn’t a particular brand or look.
Director of Alumni Relations Mark Clapper graduated from Etown in 1996. Clapper became a part of Alumni Relations in July 2005 after working in Admissions. He wanted to elevate the visibility of the ECAA and therefore began the process of creating the new alumni clothing line. He is extremely excited about this new Etown merchandise and cannot wait to see how the alumni will react.
“I wanted alumni to know what it meant to be a member of the association and to be a part of this community,” Clapper said. “When you graduate, the relationship with the College doesn’t end. It continues. That was the genesis of Blue Jays. Always.”
Through reunions, events and the new Alumni Association website, members began asking about the new “Blue Jays. Always.” logo.  The Office of Alumni Relations came up with some giveaway items that they handed out at events such as license plate frames, glasses and travel mugs. “People were asking where they could find this stuff!” Clapper said.
He continued to state that members were going into the school store looking for the items with the “Blue Jays. Always.” logo and could not find anything. It got the ECAA thinking about items to sell.
Clapper brought his idea for the clothing line to Sue Smith, director of the College Store, and Wendy Gibble, merchandise manager of the College Store. Gibble explained that the whole process started when he approached them wanting to make the new merchandise available. “He brought me the artwork and logo and I contacted one of our representatives. I had them draw up some designs using the information Mark gave me,” Gibble continued.
“The line is simple and purposeful. Not only alumni will buy it, but I believe that current students will also be interested because of the phrase.”
During Homecoming Weekend, the College Store predicts that there will be four times the number of people than on a regular weekend. College Store employees are excited to sell the new clothing to friends and family members and see their reactions. The clothing line will be available online through the alumni and the College Store  websites.
A portion of the proceeds will go to the alumni programs. Clapper explained that these programs are essential parts of the College. “Some of the most important alumni programs bring alumni and students together,” he said.
“Mentorships, speeches for classes and internships are programs that the money is going towards. So actually, it does not only support alumni but current students too,” he continued.
Clapper intends to continue collaborating with the Alumni Association and the College Store and come up with new products. After seeing how the early clothing will sell, Clapper stated that he is looking forward to adding other seasonal items to the store, such as dry-fit shirts, polo shirts and light jackets.
Right before Homecoming Weekend, the Office of Alumni Relations will be revealing the clothing line electronically to the returning members. Clapper has talked a little about the clothing to alumni on the side and they are eager to purchase it. “Some asked to put clothing aside for them already!” Clapper said.
Also, the College Store will have signs advertising the new products, and promotions will be held in the future.
Clapper is only hoping for great success with the new clothing. “We have a partner in the College Store. We have a brand that is really good and a logo that is very clean. We got all the materials for something long lasting and beneficial to the College.”